The NBA regular season is winding down and playoff spots are getting filled. With just a little more than a week to go, there is a lot to be decided, especially in the Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, there have already been four playoff spots clinched, and the play-in teams are nearly set. Cleveland, Boston, New York, and Indiana all have locked up spots inside the top six, while Detroit and Milwaukee are on their way to doing so and the Pistons could lock up their spot tonight.
Here are the postseason scenarios for today:
1. Cleveland can clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win and loss by the Celtics. The Cavs are on the road against the Spurs tonight and Boston hosts the Phoenix Suns, who are without Kevin Durant. This one seems unlikely, but Cleveland is still the favorite to be have home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
2. Detroit clinches a playoff spot with a win. The Pistons have been the best turnaround story all year in the NBA and if they can go on the road and beat the Toronto Raptors (who very much want to lose this game), they will get their spot in the top six.
3. The other thing to watch is that if Detroit wins, they will not only clinch a playoff spot, but they will also lock the Orlando Magic into the play-in tournament. Miami and Chicago have already been locked into the play-in tournament. It is highly unlikely that either Orlando or Atlanta can get into the top six and the play-in tournament teams in the Eastern Conference are very likely to be Orlando, Atlanta, Miami, and Chicago, in some order.
Postseason scenarios for Friday, April 4 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GhV0naFxaD
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 4, 2025
Keep an eye on these games tonight to see if any more spots are clinched for the postseason.
Other games to watch include Chicago hosting Portland, Golden State hosting Denver, and the Mavericks traveling to Los Angeles to face the Clippers.
Tuesday, April 15th
No. 7 Orlando Magic vs No. 8 Atlanta Hawks (TNT, Time TBD)
No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Clippers (TNT, Time TBD)
Wednesday, April 16th
No. 10 Chicago Bulls vs No. 9 Miami Heat (ESPN, Time TBD
No. 10 Sacramento Kings vs No. 9 Dallas Mavericks (ESPN, Time TBD)
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